Early Years SEND Area Manager

Job Introduction

About Us

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxfordshire County Council are transforming support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We are building a team of health and education professionals (Experts at Hand) to provide earlier intervention and stronger inclusion in schools settings, providing practical support where it is needed, and helping children and young people receive the right support, at the right time. By sharing your expertise and working collaboratively with colleagues across organisations, you'll play a key role in improving outcomes for children, families, and schools across Oxfordshire.

As part of our ambitious Experts at Hand programme, you'll join a growing community of specialists who are helping to reshape SEND support across Oxfordshire. Working across education, health and care, we're creating more connected, responsive services that bring expertise closer to children, families and practitioners, ensuring support is available at the earliest opportunity and where it can have the greatest impact.

The Early Years SEND Service is central to this vision. We know that the earliest years of a child's life can make a profound difference to their future outcomes. Through partnership working, early intervention and specialist support, we're helping children develop, learn and thrive from the very beginning. As an Early Years SEND Area Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in leading this important work, helping to shape services that improve experiences and outcomes for children and families across Oxfordshire.

About the Role

This is an exciting leadership opportunity for someone who is passionate about inclusion, early intervention and system-wide improvement.

As an Early Years SEND Area Manager, you'll provide leadership across a defined geographical area, ensuring children, families and practitioners have access to high-quality specialist support and expertise. You'll work closely with schools, early years settings, health colleagues, family support services and SEND professionals to strengthen inclusive practice and ensure that children with emerging and identified SEND needs receive the support they need as early as possible.

You'll lead and inspire a team of skilled professionals, creating an environment where collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement can flourish. Alongside managing and developing staff, you'll play a key role in shaping service delivery, building partnerships and driving improvements that benefit children and families across the county.

This is a role that combines strategic leadership with a strong commitment to practice. You'll be influential in helping to develop services, championing inclusive approaches and ensuring that early years practitioners have the confidence, knowledge and support they need to help every child succeed.

Most importantly, you'll help create a system where specialist expertise is available when and where it is needed, strengthening outcomes for children and building confidence across the wider workforce.

About You

We're looking for an experienced leader with a strong background in SEND and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for young children and their families. Experience and knowledge of safeguarding are essential requirements for this role, including the ability to promote safe practice, recognise and respond appropriately to concerns, and ensure that children’s welfare remains central to all aspects of service delivery.

You'll have a deep understanding of early years education, child development and inclusive practice, together with the ability to bring people together around a shared vision. You will be a skilled relationship builder, comfortable working across organisational boundaries and developing strong partnerships that deliver meaningful results.

You'll be someone who thrives on supporting and developing others, creating a positive culture where colleagues feel valued, empowered and motivated to achieve their best. You'll bring excellent communication skills, sound professional judgement and the confidence to navigate complex situations whilst keeping children and families at the centre of decision-making.

Most of all, you'll share our belief that early intervention changes lives and be excited by the opportunity to shape services that will have a lasting impact on children, families and communities across Oxfordshire.

Rewards and Benefits

In return, you'll join an innovative and supportive organisation that is committed to transforming SEND support across the county. Through Experts at Hand, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside talented professionals from across education, health and care, influence service development and help shape a new approach to SEND provision.

If you're looking for a leadership role where you can combine strategic influence, partnership working and a genuine opportunity to improve outcomes for children and families, we'd love to hear from you.

Your office base may be subject to change as we are currently transitioning between temporary and permanent office locations due to the closure of County Hall. If this is applicable to you, you will be notified, but no reimbursement will apply in respect of travel.

Our commitment to:
 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, full time and part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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